Swindled on eBay......

[independentphoto]

Warning - Rant ahead......

I purchased a copy of Windows XP Pro for my old but trusty laptop a month ago on eBay. I've been trading on there for ages and had almost no problem even considering that I've had stuff in from the far east etc.

Wishing to reinstall windows on my laptop, I decided that XP was the way to go. Now I could have bought from one of the normal retail channels that I use, but there are often very good deals on LIGITIMATE stuff on ebay. Well, I made the bid etc and waited due to the fact that (wait for the alarm bells) the guy doesn't accept PayPal.

When the package arrived and I managed to get a time window that fitted in with our wonderful sorting offices collection hours, it was special delivery and well packed.

Then comes the problem - the pack was an OEM version which is great and just what I wanted, however the COA sticker on the pack (actually half on the pack since the top bit that stays on the wrapper wasn't there) was BRANDED and appeared to have been peeled from somewhere else. Maybe a junked or upgraded machine? or some poor sods PC in for repair? Who knows. I just know that it wasn't ligit.

Being a "bloody nice bloke" (ain't all us bikers the same?), I contacted the guy and told him about it, explaining that I use the machine for work and having IBM licenses on my Compaq machine was not clever. The response came back "sent the sticker and I'll replace it" not the whole pack, but the sticker only:smt107.

After I posted the label with a good stiff letter, the guy is saying he never got it and now wants me to return the CD and refund me my money less £20. So, to me that means that I'm out of pocket from someone who has supplied illegal goods and who is making 100% profit on the venture, since I looked up his purchases and he paid £10 for it WITHOUT a label.

Be warned - He sells Windows XP Pro almost exclusively and constantly. Do NOT buy from stater121.

Garry:(

[Tiger 55]

To whom have you reported this criminal?

a) Your local police

b) His local police

c) Microsoft

d) Ebay

e) All of the above

[Lozzo]

Someone I know is currently serving 6 months for selling faked DVDs as a commercial operation, after being caught out flogging them on eBay.

Turn him in.

[Biker Biggles]

Look after No 1 and get your money back first.;)

[independentphoto]

To whom have you reported this criminal?

a) Your local police

b) His local police

c) Microsoft

d) Ebay

e) All of the above

I'm working on something at the moment. I'm currently now in official dispute on eBay which I've never used before. The staff at eBay can read the messages which makes it interesting as he squirms and moans. He's been selling loads of these and one of his previous suppliers has been kicked off of eBay already. I've contacted several other buyers who have made helpful comments. In the end, I'm not bothered if he places a vindictive negative feedback on me because all my others speak for themselves and I can place a comment to explain it. It would seem that he maintains a very high record by bullying buyers into withdrawing their feedback.

What gets me is that he doesn't have a clue who I do or do not work for - many companies regularly monitor eBay for their products and make test purchases. eBay also monitor a lot of activity. I could work for either of them, Old Bill or Takeit and Run Solicitors etc etc. Talk about brass neck!

Oh yes and I do have his address and a photocopy of the returned (or "LOST" as he would say) COA Sticker as well as copies of all the contradictory messages that he has sent outwith the dispute panel......:smt046

The other thing that I am watching for is a virus attack on the PC or dodgy postal items to the house. I am however very well covered for PC security and intercept eMail viruses on an almost daily basis (I have multiple email addresses and ISPs).

Garry;)

[independentphoto]

Look after No 1 and get your money back first.;)

I don't think Nochex gives the same protection as PayPal hence the avoidance. Besides which his offer would still leave me out of pocket and him 100% up. Also the fact that he's upset a few others with the same malarky who now regret not firing at him.

I'm willing to take a hit and chalk it up to experience if I can get the satisfaction of sorting out the matter in general. After all, many of us like to drink a few quid here and there etc etc.

Oh yes and being saintly :smt059(for a moment) No1 for me is the community.

[CoolGirl]

Did you use your credit card , or another protected method of payment?

We discovered the other day that, between us, my partner and I have conducted 5 transactions on eBay in the last 2 months. 3 of them were problematic. (1 sent him goods not as described, 1 sabotaged my auction, 1 buyer claiming I'd sent goods that weren't the genuine article put up for auction).

I'd use eBay again, but with caution and 'belt and braces' methods of sale and purchase.

Oh yes, and all reported to eBay, but to little effect. Fortunately, neither of us was left out of pocket, but the rogue elements remain.

[independentphoto]

Good point CG.

I had thought about that, but haven't checked yet. I must have a look at the Nochex site as well to see waht they say. Although I'm a bit like the Red Baron at the moment with this bandit in my sights...........


............:smt021 & :smt070

Cheers

[sarah]

What gets me is that he doesn't have a clue who I do or do not work for - many companies regularly monitor eBay for their products and make test purchases. eBay also monitor a lot of activity. I could work for either of them, Old Bill or Takeit and Run Solicitors etc etc. Talk about brass neck!


V true. My ebay account was suspended after someone managed to hack into it to try and sell (I presume non-existent) Tiffany jewellery and Tiffany contacted ebay to complain.

[ASM-Forever]

V true. My ebay account was suspended after someone managed to hack into it to try and sell (I presume non-existent) Tiffany jewellery and Tiffany contacted ebay to complain.

My account was 'used' to try and sell a motorbike a year or so ago. The give away was that i would never own a Honda Dominator. :p

[StreetHawk]

I got stung for £40 by buying a helmet that was supposed to be 4 years old. Was actually 10!

[Wideboy]

paypal is very touchy, when i bought me exhaust i logged into my paypal on a different computer than i normally do and when i went to confirm the payment paypal suspended my account saying a third party had accessed it.

shop him in i say:p

[SoulKiss]

Pity you are not in the US....

http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/12/19/163238

"The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) is offering consumers up to $500 for reporting software counterfeiters (http://www.informationweek.com/software/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=205100007) who sell their goods on online auction sites like eBay. Under the plan, anyone who unwittingly buys fake software from an online fraudster can receive up to $500 if they report the scam.

[independentphoto]

Pity you are not in the US....

http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/12/19/163238

"The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) is offering consumers up to $500 for reporting software counterfeiters (http://www.informationweek.com/software/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=205100007) who sell their goods on online auction sites like eBay. Under the plan, anyone who unwittingly buys fake software from an online fraudster can receive up to $500 if they report the scam.



.....runs off to check Microsofts uk division.......;)